Sony Japan's ceramic white PS3 and DualShock 3 announced

Nope, not an early sign of cataracts, you're looking at Sony's ceramic white 40GB PS3 and DualShock 3 controller just loosed in Japan. Like its European 40GB cuz, the CECHH00 Series PS3 aces the backward compatibility, memory card slot, and 2x of the 4x USB slots in favor of a low, low ¥39,980 (about $341/€242) price tag when it ships on 11 November. The DualShock 3 wireless rumbler (sold separately) first revealed at Tokyo Game Show hits shelves the same day for ¥5,500 or about $47/€33. Yes, both the PS3 and DualShock 3 are available in black if you're feeling the ebony over new-school ivory.

[Via Akihabara News]

[caramelzappa @ Oct 9th 2007 5:27AM]

The new pricing definitely makes the ps3 competitive. It still needs some stronger titles though, most of the attractive titles on the PS3 are available on the 360 as well. As soon as the PS3 has a strong game like Gears or Halo 3, I'd pick one up.

[shaun @ Oct 9th 2007 7:10AM]

metal gear solid 4! (I know its not out yet but that should fit the category

[DGAR1 @ Oct 9th 2007 7:28AM]

I would recc'o that you give Heavenly Sword a shot. A buddy of mine gave it a whirl, and announced that he thinks that it might be the type of game that would make you want to buy a ps3. SIXAXIS with Rumble? Can't wait to try it out.

[Kevin @ Oct 9th 2007 9:31AM]

I would have a really hard time spending $400 for a console and game that only involves about 10 hours of run time.

[Segarsj @ Oct 9th 2007 12:05PM]

Agreed. I'm not jumping on board until the successor to "Shadows of the Colossus" is released, in addition to God of War 3.

[Blackster @ Oct 9th 2007 5:44AM]

pfft and we habe to pay 400€ for that package!

[waiownsyou @ Oct 9th 2007 5:46AM]

What I still don't understand is why Sony even bothered showing the silver and white variants only to release the black one until now, and even then, it's limited to the Japanese market. THOSE BASTARDS. And someone nuke those guys that slapped a lawsuit on Sony to make them delay DualShock 3 (though they probably would've been better off suing the XBOX team).

[Thomas @ Oct 9th 2007 6:48AM]

I don't think putting nuclear bomb innuendo and Japan together is such a great idea.

[iRobot @ Oct 9th 2007 5:57AM]

WTF? So when are we getting this in the States? And why the hell did they put ANOTHER fucking region lock on it? So we can't order it from Japan?

I am really getting sick of Sony's crap. No good games, riduclous price tag, no rumble controller, no backwards compatibility, content region locks. God, why do I fucking bother? If FF13 comes out on Xbox 360 -- I will NEVER look at Sony again.

[Ano @ Oct 9th 2007 7:50AM]

@IRobot:
Yes, please do not bother and just assume everything fits with the things you come up with in your closed little world.

In other words, in case you missed the point, get your facts straight before making a comment.

[iRobot @ Oct 11th 2007 12:47PM]

@ Ano,

What the hell are you talking about? What point did I miss -- exactly? That there's a White Colored PS3 that's only coming out in Japan. Check. That this is going to pack in the Dual Shock 3 controller. Check. That we, in the States and Europe cannot order this from Japan, because of region locks. Check. That backwards compatibility is only through software emulation. Check. And that every PS3 game so far has been your standard fair, and nothing out of the ordinary PS2 range. Check. That Sony is lowing the price tag of the PS3, because NO ONE is buying it a $600 -- Um... CHECK!

So what POINT am I missing? Oh, that you, Ano, are completely stupid. Check. That you, Ano, are a Sony fanboy -- CHECK!! If anybody's world is small, again that would be you. Are THOSE facts clear enough for YA?

[Ted @ Dec 11th 2007 1:37PM]

What you got wrong is that it is region locked. PS3 games are region-free, and if you buy it from Japan the Blu-Ray will be Region A (same as US).

[iRobot @ Dec 12th 2007 4:07PM]

PS2 games on the PS3 -- ARE still region locked, genius. So, why don't you just go back to sleep... Late.

[Shinogu @ Oct 9th 2007 6:02AM]

Finally, some more colors. :D

And that the Dual Shock 3 is the same price as the SIXAXIS, that's good news. Very good news.

[strippervicar @ Oct 9th 2007 6:08AM]

yet no mention of the fact that sony is completely getting rid of the original ps3 in europe and giving us a 'new' model, i.e. that 40gb black version but lacking backwards compatability. I mean, seriously wtf. I want to see the ps3 beat down the 360 in a greased up wrestling match as much as anyone, but they really aren't going the right way about making that happen here in the UK..

[Jakob @ Oct 9th 2007 9:37AM]

I don't get why people is crying about the new 40 GB PS3 model. Right now you have a choice; 40 GB without BC for €399 or 60 GB Starterpack with BC for €499. Yes people says that Sony is going to outphase the 60 GB model, but I think they will introduce the 80 GB with BC when the currently stocks runs up?

What's wrong with the price? In US you pay a exremtly low price, compared to us in Europe. For example we pay about 422€ in Denmark and Sweden. Maybe off-topic, but when/if Sweden, UK, Denmark etc. switch to Euro, will the price be the same in whole Europe?

[HineyWipe @ Oct 9th 2007 9:34AM]

I've got a dead horse you can beat.

[Roy @ Oct 9th 2007 6:11AM]

The white color sure as hell compensates for the lack of BC.
Every time I'll wanna play Jak and Daxter I'll look at the console and mesmerize in its beauty.

[Paul @ Oct 9th 2007 7:22AM]

Jak and Daxter is one of my favorite games of all time, a ps3 being white wouldn't change the fact that i cant play it.

im glad i got a 60gb EE+GS :) when i got my ps3 i rushed out and re-bought all the jaks and some other big ps2 titles i missed(god of war).

[insertAlias @ Oct 9th 2007 10:04AM]

the sarcasm clearly went right over his head...

[Rms869 @ Oct 9th 2007 12:34PM]

I've never felt the need to respond to a comment/article on here, but I couldn't resist after seeing the great response by Roy, the idiotic comment by Paul, and the great retort from insertAlias.

[Blake @ Oct 9th 2007 3:47PM]

Yeah.. lol. That was some good comment action! :D

[Serpico @ Oct 9th 2007 6:40AM]

I think i like this color more than black :)

[Jay @ Oct 9th 2007 6:51AM]

Would prefer crimson red, just like some guy did in the US.

It was amaaazing......

[Scooby03 @ Oct 9th 2007 1:28PM]

Dude u can get them on colorware.com

[Jay @ Oct 9th 2007 6:56AM]

It was Sony themselves who made the red one, albeit limited - my bad:

http://www.playstation.ca/canadaday/en/playstation3.html

Tell me this isn't gorgeous.

[Ethan @ Oct 9th 2007 7:10AM]

The Playstation 3's just a bunch of expensive components that have no relevance to games and aren't wanted by the consumer.

But now the ps2 chips and the memory cards are gone, everybody's happy! Breakthrough product!

[Cam @ Oct 9th 2007 8:15AM]

No the blu ray discs and consequent blu ray readers have nothing to do with the games at all... there are some things in the ps3 that some people may use and others dont but im sure everything in there has a use by some.

[Phil @ Oct 10th 2007 11:55AM]

Just like the PS2 really. DVD was very new when that was launched. 120 million units sold later.......................

PS3 - 5.5 million units sold to date with few games and an expensive price tag. What will happen now with more games and a lower price tag? Does'nt take a genius.............

[Jay @ Oct 9th 2007 6:35PM]

Yeah, no-one wants a PS3. That's why half the gaming world is complaining about the price: if you don't like it and never want one, why are you so bothered about whether you can afford one......?

[Ethan @ Oct 9th 2007 8:06PM]

Er, I was making a joke about how the graphics synthesizer, card readers and USB ports are really cheap. The first sentence is a stereotype that I used to that purpose, the part that you've clearly reacted to.

We're not complaining about the cost, we're laughing at it. It's a point of ridicule, because there are few experiences that look compelling on the ps3, the ones that do are available on cheaper consoles with exclusive pedigree of their own. And this is twinned with a film format which is bizarrely filled with watch-once popcorn fodder. HD-DVD is a bit barren too, but Children of Men is a film I would enjoy watching several times again with extra pixels.

All of this is set to change, but honestly this year on the ps3 I'm vaguely interested in DMC4 (and echochrome). Super Mario Galaxy or Mass Effect both look fantastic. This was a long response, but I was trying not to fall in the easy pithole of appearing prejudiced. I have considered the ps3's advantages, but know they don't apply to me, and believe my opinions are shared by others.

[suv4x4 @ Oct 9th 2007 7:31AM]

Ah, the white color sure looks great, both on the box and controller.

So, XBOX360 was white and now black. PS3 was black, and now white.

The PS3 also has a bunch of discontinued models and they keep shuffling the HD size up/down and dropping various features.

Wii just keeps selling what they had.

Even if you ignore the market share and sales numbers, it's obvious how the companies feel inside:

Wii - calm and cool
XBOX360 - sliighly panicked, but ok
PS3 - red alert, abandon ship!

[Alan Partridge @ Oct 9th 2007 7:59AM]

Do Japanese prices include tax? Because ¥39,980 is £168. A Nintendo Wii costs £179 in the UK...:(

The new prices are tempting but I gonna wait for Little Big Planet, MGS4, GTA4 and Playstation Home before I even think of buying a PS3, especially since I wont be playing any of my PS2 games on it.

[farknarkle @ Oct 9th 2007 7:47PM]

Add 5% sales tax.

[daddycool @ Oct 9th 2007 8:02AM]

I wonder how the Japanese will react to the loss of BC. Something tells me they will keep a BC capable model on the market in Japan even if they don't in Europe.

[FermitTheKrog @ Oct 9th 2007 8:02AM]

Why in the region that it is selling the best (Japan) does it have the cheapest price of all regions ($341)? I just cant understand Sony.

[dogarms @ Oct 9th 2007 8:08AM]

@FermitTheKrog

...because it's a japanese company?

[FermitTheKrog @ Oct 9th 2007 10:11AM]

I don't care if that is their home market or not. It's a stupid business decision.

[Bellerophon @ Oct 9th 2007 8:09AM]

Not sure about how tax works in Japan, but I know one thing - if it's coming to Japan it'll hit Hong Kong shortly after, and they have no tax there. Pretty sure this will be dirt cheap when it arrives.

If it's any version of the PS3 I would buy, it'd be this one. Especially with no BC, I'll just use the money saved and buy that White DualShock 3 to go with it.

[Will @ Oct 9th 2007 8:13AM]

Is there a region lock? It just so happens I will be in Tokyo in November and I was thinking of picking up a PS3 anyway. I like the white. Any reason not to get this (besides the lack of backwards compatability)?

[Bellerophon @ Oct 9th 2007 8:17AM]

IIRC PS3 games are region free. Only thing that was region-locked was the backwards compatibility. With that gone, there's nothing stopping me getting this one.

[diamondandy @ Oct 9th 2007 12:33PM]

it is not region locked except backwards compatability, all my local import shops are selling PS3's from Japan and America but saying to customers that basically you can play English, American and the Japanese titles on each PS3, the only difference is B/C which will only let you play the PS1/PS2 games from their respective region.

[mushrooshi @ Oct 9th 2007 8:30AM]

Thats FLIPPIN SWEET!

[Twitchy @ Oct 9th 2007 8:58AM]

White controller? Great, now I'll have to wash my grubby mits before gaming.

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 9th 2007 9:15AM]

I suddenly feel sadness for your controllers... poor things

[Pete S @ Oct 9th 2007 9:53AM]

Typo: I believe you're saying "aces" when you mean "axes". Big difference!

[inu @ Oct 9th 2007 9:58AM]

here it's more like 1100$ for 60Gb version (40Gb not available).. 341$? huh

[Schwinn @ Oct 9th 2007 10:10AM]

"...aces the backward compatibility..."

You mean "axes" right? It lost the ability, it didn't make it better... right?

[Steve Grenier @ Oct 9th 2007 10:21AM]

Seriously learn how to spell or use grammar. Sony aces the backwards compatibility? you mean AXES? and is loosed in Japan? you mean let loose? You using a translator? learn how to type if you want to be on the home page.

[Thomas Ricker @ Oct 9th 2007 11:43AM]

@Steve Grenier and others,

Actually, I meant exactly what I said. Ace is a slang expression for remove or trim. Think rat pack: "Ace the attitude kid."

Same for loose, its use is appropriate.

Just because you're not hip to the scene doesn't make Rock-n-Roll music wrong Mister.

Thomas